Five Star Professional partnered with PHOENIX magazine to recognize a select group of Phoenix-area wealth managers who provide quality services to their clients. Donald Burton, CFP®, is featured, along with other award winners, in a special section of the September issue.

“By providing ongoing, hands-on investment management, our goal is to enhance the returns and control risk in your investment portfolio, thus providing a solid base to build and grow your net worth to provide for your future. Burton Wealth Management strives to help you bring all the pieces of your financial life together, so you can stay on track to meet changing goals and personal circumstances,” says Donald Burton, CFP®, of Burton Wealth Management.

The Five Star Wealth Manager award program is the largest and most widely published wealth manager award program in the financial services industry. The award is based on a rigorous, multifaceted research methodology, which incorporates input from peers and firm leaders along with client retention rates, industry experience and a thorough regulatory history review.

“This is quite an honor for me. This Five Star Wealth Manager award signals that my constant effort to deliver personalized service has paid off. It is gratifying to be recognized in this way,” says Donald. “We are committed to competent and ethical behavior that puts your interests first. Your investment progress is closely monitored to see that your goals are always if focus and to adjust to the ongoing needs of your personal situation. We provide on-going communication at least quarterly and strive to give you superior service and diligent attention to detail.”

“Based on our evaluation, the wealth managers we recognize are committed to pursuing professional excellence and have a deep knowledge of their industry. They strive to provide exemplary care to the people they serve,” stated Dan Zdon, CEO, Five Star Professional.

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Active as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process*); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients; 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations.

Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or awarded. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided and is not indicative of the winner’s future performance. 1,149 Phoenix wealth managers were considered for the award; 232 (21 percent of candidates) were named 2016 Five Star Wealth Managers.

*To qualify as having a favorable regulatory and complaint history, the person cannot have: 1. been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a suspended or revoked license, or payment of a fine, 2. had more than three customer complaints filed against them (settled or pending) with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process, 3. individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint filed with a regulatory authority, 4. filed for bankruptcy, or 5. been convicted of a felony.